§ 3.12 p.m.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the second Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what reply has been given to Mr. Kosygin's Note on the increasing tensions in the Middle East.]
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE, FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (LORD CHALFONT)My Lords, on Monday, February 2, the Soviet Ambassador gave my right honourable friend the Prime Minister a message from Mr. Kosygin which drew attention to the dangers of the present situation in the Middle East and urged the need for progress towards a peaceful solution.
My right honourable friend's reply to Mr. Kosygin was delivered on February 6. In it he emphasised our deep concern about the deterioration of the Middle East situation; the need to re-establish an effective cease-fire; our support of the Security Council resolution of November, 1967, and especially the twin principles of withdrawal and commitment to peace; and our willingness to work for a general agreement on arms limitation even in advance of a political settlement, for which we shall continue to strive.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, is my noble friend aware that I am deeply grateful for that Answer? May I ask him whether, in view of the reported complementary proposals made by the British Government, the American Government and the French Government in this matter, which have included not only the proposal for a cease-fire but a limitation of arms to bring about a balance of arms, and a guarantee of the independence of Israel and the Arab States, the security of their frontiers and a peace-keeping force—in view of this wide area of agreement, it is possible for the three Powers, together with Russia, to urge that the United Nations' representative should press this both with the Arab States and with Israel?
§ LORD CHALFONTMy Lords, I am grateful for what my noble friend has said, and so far as his suggestion is concerned we are of course continuing to play a very full part in the Four Power talks which are going on. Obviously, they must remain confidential at the moment. But we are trying to devise some fresh guidance for Dr. Jarring, the United Nations' representative, and certainly my noble friend's ideas will be borne very much in mind.
§ LORD GLADWYNMy Lords, would not the noble Lord agree that, whatever our own view may be on the clash in the Middle East between the two super-Powers, we are likely to have singularly little influence on either of them, and indeed on the whole progress of events, unless we and the French can somehow hammer out a joint policy, for instance, in the future, or indeed the present, European political community?
§ LORD CHALFONTMy Lords, I think it would be a mistake to regard what is going on in the Middle East quite simply as a clash between the super-Powers. There is a great deal more at stake in the Middle East than that, as I am sure the noble Lord will agree. I am equally reluctant to agree that a purely European approach to this problem is likely to solve it. In my view, we must get the agreement of the four Permanent Members of the Security Council, and work on the basis of the existing Security Council resolution. This, I think, is the road that points to the most likely solution.
§ LORD GLADWYNMy Lords, I am sorry to persist, but if we and the French reached some agreement on arms policy surely that would help?
§ LORD CHALFONTMy Lords, I think that the question of an agreement on arms policy in the Middle East is one for a completely multilateral agreement. We should like to see such an agreement, and would play our full part in it. But, again, I think it would be a question that affects more countries than ourselves and the French.
§ LORD SEGALMy Lords, in view of the difficult situation existing at the moment in all parts of the Middle East, would not the greatest contribution that the Government could make towards the 1018 easing of tension be to concentrate all their energies in promoting a cease-fire?
§ LORD CHALFONTMy Lords, of course a cease-fire is one of the things that we want to see achieved in the Middle East. But I am convinced that the best way to approach this matter is the way that we have been approaching it up to now; namely, to play a full part in the discussion among the four Permanent Members of the Security Council, with a view to getting some guidance for the United Nations representative there. I think we should let that have a further run before making other proposals.